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Unit of study_

DESN9100: Major Project Strategic Design

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit requires the application of design strategy methods and theory to address a real-world problem. Students will have the opportunity to advance their design strategy skills by exploring a complex problem and designing and implementing a design-led strategy in response. The unit will explore design principles, tools and methods that can be implemented to influence strategic decision and direction. Students will learn how to initiate, lead and manage design strategies in their own organisations and gain a deeper understanding of design strategy in a practical organisational setting. Each week, students will be challenged through evaluation and critique by the teaching staff and student cohort to help progress their project. The unit will culminate in a final presentation where students will present their final strategy design.

Unit details and rules

Unit code DESN9100
Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 12
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
DESN9003
Assumed knowledge
? 

DESN9001 and DESN9002

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Erez Nusem, erez.nusem@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Research Report
Report and short presentation
30% Week 05 See Canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment group assignment Final Design Strategy Report
Report and presentation
50% Week 12 See Canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Strategic Plan Documentation (Reflective/concept book)
Strategic Plan Documentation (Reflective/concept book)
20% Week 13 See Canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Design innovation project report: Students will present their diagnostic of the strategic design challenge that exists in their project. The report will outline the design methodologies used to carry out research, why these methodologies were selected, what data was collected, and how insights were developed from this data. Additionally, this report could highlight research gaps or assumptions made throughout students’ research.
  • Reflective journal/concept book: Students will showcase the iterations of strategy recommendation developed for the strategic design project. This journal will outline the link between diagnostics of the strategic challenge and the proposed solutions, how solutions were tested, what was learned from them and how this helped the development of final recommendations to the project client. Students will also reflect on their personal learning experience throughout this project, and on the value that design can bring to the field of strategy.
  • Final presentation: This presentation will be delivered to summarise the strategic design diagnostic and recommendation to the project client. The presentation will put forward a concrete set of actions for the client to consider, should they adopt this strategy.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. Introduction to the subject; 2. Good and bad strategy, and what design has to do with it Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1
Week 02 A framework for strategic design Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO2
Week 03 Finding opportunities for strategic design Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO2
Week 04 Understanding the problem: an internal perspective Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1
Week 05 Understanding the problem: an external perspective Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO2
Week 06 Questioning and re-framing to develop strategic design Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO2
Week 07 Co-designing strategy: facilitating discussions that matter Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO4
Week 08 Selecting a winning strategy: testing forward Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 09 Designing strategic action plans and building momentum Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO2
Week 10 Strategic design to inspire action: making it real Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 11 Dealing with uncertainty Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO2
Week 12 Continuing the growth story and Strategy beyond strategic design Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the difference between good and bad strategy
  • LO2. develop ability to use design methodologies to inform a strategy diagnostic
  • LO3. develop ability to apply a strategic design framework to drive strategy formulation
  • LO4. develop ability to use design methodologies to co-design strategy recommendations and action plans.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Second time unit is running. Small changes made to assessment type and format.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.